Game table



Patented Aug. 4, 1942v UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME TABLE Cora Scovil, New York, N. Y.

Application July 19, 1941, Serial No. 403,104

' z calms. (ci. 311-3) 'Ihis invention relates to an improved game board and table.

It is anv object of the invention to provide a device of the above character of improved construction and attractive appearance which Vcari be used both as a game board and table.

A further object is the provision of an improved game board in which the parts can be readily disassembled so as to facilitate cleaning.

My invention contemplates the provision of an improved table having a game board positioned in a recess formed in the top thereof. Over the top of the game board I provide a cover preferably made of transparent material which may be shifted in an improved manner from open position, giving access to the game board, to closed position, covering the game board.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game table embodying my invention showing one of the cover members in open position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion o! the table with the game board shown in assembled relationship;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a manner in which the game board may be disassembled;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the table and Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing in full lines the cover members in closed position, and in dotted lines the cover members in open position.

My improved table is provided with a supporting structure preferably consisting of four legs III and the connecting frame portions il. The legs and frame portions may be formed integrally or of one or more pieces, as desired. One convenientmanner of fabricating the table is to form each leg of two longitudinal extending sections. Each leg section is formed integrally `with one of the connecting frame members which, in turn, is formed integrally at the other end with a longitudinal section oi the adjacent leg. Extending across the table, from side to side and supported upon the blocks Il secured to the frame members Il, is a base or panel il. preferably formed of ilat sheet material. 'I'he base il serves as asupport for a game board.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention I have shown a Backgammon game board should be understood that other types of game boards may also be employed.

In accordance with my invention I form the game board in an improved .mannen Thus. the elements of the playing field which, in a Backgammon board consists of the points i8, are formedV of separate pieces of material and secured in some suitable manner as by an adhesive, to the upper surface of the base Il. A Backgammon board is generally formed of two separate sections, separated by a bar, illustrated in the drawings by the numeral i1. In accordance with my present invention, the bar i1 is removable and merely rests upon the upper surface of the board extending transversely' thereof. To impart a smooth upper surface to the board, I provide two iiat transparent cover plates I8, each cover plate being of a size to cover one section of the Backgammon board, in the manner shown.

Positioned between the two ends of the playing board and the frame members I2, are the I5, formed on the base member. However, it

compartments I9, in which the dice 20 and counters or men 2| may be stored when not in use. Each compartment may be formed of a transverse base member 22, resting upon supporting blocks 23 secured to the frame members, and a vertical wall 24 abutting the end of the game board.

Each cover plate i8, for the top of the Backgammon board; is of a sufllcient size to occupy substantially the entire space defined by the bar Il, the compartment i9, and the two frame members Il at opposite sides of the table. When bar Il is in position, resting on the base member I4, the several parts of the Backgammon board fit snugly together. 'I'he bar I1 is of ra height to project above the cover plates I8 and accordingly can be conveniently removed, merely by grasping the projecting part thereof and raising it upwardly. The cover plates i8 can then be raised upwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, permitting cleaning of the board.

S0 as to provide a smooth table top covering the recess in the table and the compartments at the two ends thereof when the Backgammon board is not in use, I provide a pair of shiftable cover members 25, each of sufficient size to cover substantially one-half of the top of the table. The cover members are preferably made of transparent material so as to lend an attractive appearance to the table, and so as to reveal the Backgammon board disposed beneath it. 'I'he sides of the cover members are engaged in the slideways or grooves 26, formed adjacent the top of the fr'ame members I I on opposite sides ot the table. As shown, the grooves 26 are located above the upper surface of the frame members I2 and walls 24 at the two ends of the table so as to permit the cover members to lslide nutwardly ony opposite sides of the table to expose the Backgammon board, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6.

To prevent the cover members 25 from being completely withdrawn from opposite sides of the table, I provide stop members 21 projecting downwardly from the inner ends of the cover members and adapted to engage the walls 24 of the compartments when the cover members have been shifted to fully opened position .as shown in Fig. 3. When the cover members are in fully closed position, the inner ends thereof meet at a point above the center of the bar I1 and so as tdprovide clearance for the stop members 21, I provide the opposite ends of the bar I1 with recesses orcut out portions 28. l y

Adjacent the outer edges of the cover members I provide apertures 29, When the cover members 25 are in closed position, the apertures 29 are positioned above the compartments I9Vand the dice cups are inserted in the apertures resting upon the base of the compartments and serving to lock the cover members in closed position as will be clearly seen by referring to Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that my improved game board and table can be used in the ordinary manner of a table by closing the cover members 25 and the cover members will be retained i n closed position by inserting the dice cups through the apertures 29. When it is desired to use the game board, the dice cups are removed from the apertures, the cover members can then be shifted to the right, as shown in Fig. 2 so as to give access to the compartment I9 at the left-hand side of the table, and permit the counters and dice to be removed therefrom. Similarly, by shifting the cover members outwardly to the left, access can be obtained to the compartment at vthe righthand end of the table. Both of the cover mem bers are then shifted outwardly in opposite directions until the stops 21 engage the walls 24 of the respective compartments. The game board is then fully exposed and ready for use. If it is desired to clean the game board or to gain access to the interior thereof for any other purpose such as changing the board, the bar I1 is iirst removed and the cover plates I8 can then be lifted'up.

My improved table may be made of any desired material. However, I prefer to form it of a suitable plastic material such as Lucite, cellulose acetate, Plexiglass, or the like. The cover plates I8 are made of transparent material, and I prefer that` the other portions of the table should also be made of transparent material. I have found that the appearance of the table is improved and that more stability is imparted thereto by supporting the legs on the cylindrical base members 3l in the manner shown.

I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, that many modifications may be made therein.

I claim: 1

1. A table including a top portion having a pair of side and a pair of end members defining a recessed chamber, a board positioned in the recessed chamber and having a bar extending transversely thereof through the chamber dividing the board into two sections, the opposite `side members projecting above the end members and being formed with aligned horizontally extending grooves in a plane above the top of the end members. .8 pair of slidable cover members disposed lover the top of the chamber and having their opposite'edges positioned in the grooves of the side members and being shiftable between closed position covering the chamber, and open position exposing the chamber, the abutting edges of the cover members when 'in closed position being positioned over the center of the aforesaid bar and the abutting edges being provided with downwardly depending ,lugs to engage the end walls when the cover members are in open position, and to prevent complete withdrawal thereof, the said bar being recessed to accommodate the lugs.

2. A table comprising a top portion having a base member, a pair of side members, and two transversely disposed end members connected between the side members adjacent each end thereof so as to provide a centrally disposed recessed chamber having a compartment at each end thereof. a. removable bar extending transversely of the recessed chamber and merely resting on the base member, a pair of transparent fiat cover plates covering the base member and the chamber on the two sides of the removable bar, the aforesaid side members projecting above the end members and being formed with confronting aligned grooves in a plane above the top of the end members, a pair of slidable cover members above said recessed chamber and compartments and having their opposite edges disposed in the grooves and shiftable between closed position covering the recessed chamber and compartments, and open po sition exposing the recessed chamber, the abutting edges of the cover membersbeing positioned over the central portion of the removable bar when in closed position, and the cover members being provided with depending lugs adjacent their abutting edges for engaging the end members and preventing complete withdrawal of the cover members when in open position, and the removable bar being recessed to accommodate the depending lugs and the said cover members being also provided with apertures positioned over the compartments when in closed position, and means adapted to be inserted in the apertures and project into the compartments to retain the cover members in closed position.

CORA SCOVIL. 

